It’s Not About Politics

The NAACP and the Iowa State Conference met with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s office on Monday to address felony disenfranchisement and prison disparities in the state.

Jotaka Eaddy, NAACP Senior Director of voting rights had this to say about restoring the votes to former offenders:

It is not about politics--it is about the fundamental right to vote for people who have paid their debt to society to have the ability to participate in the democracy for which they are returning.

The Iowa governor’s office stated that they have and will continue to work at streamlining the process for restoration applications; however, the number of those disenfranchised remains high. The NAACP will continue to work with the Iowa state conference and the governor to decrease disparities in the justice system and ensure a smoother process for those hoping to restore their rights.